Community health assessments facilitate the identification and description of issues that influence the community’s health and factors that determine available resources to resolve the problems. The assessments are instrumental tools for promoting and enhancing the health of communities by ensuring the channeling of local resources towards where they can have the appropriate and greatest impact. An example of such assessment models is Association for Community Health Improvement, Community Health Assessment toolkit. The use of the model to assess the community is associated with various benefits.
Benefits
Association for Community Health Improvement, Community Health Assessment toolkit helps identify what was effective in delivering healthcare services, areas that require improvements, and whether implemented approaches yielded the desired impact on the people. This strategy of reflection on the past ensures that assessors know where to focus their attention to guarantee the community’s well-being (Association for Community Health Improvement, n.d.). The model helps the assessors to understand the community’s overall health and pinpoint the needs of different populations such as the elderly and females. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data is utilized to reflect the community’s opinion and experience about their health.
The assessment model advocates the use of multilayered strategies to address identifies the health needs of the community. The model acknowledges that different factors influence health; therefore, a single-layered plan is ineffective in improving community well-being (Association for Community Health Improvement, n.d.). Additionally, the model establishes a strong sense of ownership among stakeholders. For example, the assessors engage various community groups, building trust and promoting inclusivity, making them own the whole process from beginning to end. Moreover, the model facilitates effective prioritization of health issues affecting different populations. As indicated earlier, the qualitative and quantitative data is collected in the process, allowing the assessor to decide on the most pressing health needs and address them first.
Other benefits associated with the Association for Community Health Improvement, Community Health Assessment toolkit include a better understanding of community, effective communication and progress, and continuous health improvement (Association for Community Health Improvement, n.d.). The model uses census information, zip code, and qualitative data to define communities, design the scope of assessment, and formulate follow-up strategies, which are vital for understanding populations. Assessment results are recorded and communicated to all stakeholders to facilitate a collective approach to improving health. Actions were taken to address identified community health needs to ensure continuous growth of well-being and progress towards desired health outcomes or goals.
Agencies, Time Frame, and Role of Public Health Nurses
Various agencies are involved when applying Association for Community Health Improvement, Community Health Assessment toolkit. According to Association for Community Health Improvement (n.d.), the agencies are the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Catholic Health Association. The model also includes the National Research Council, Society of Practitioners of Health Impact Assessment, and National Association of County and City Health Officials. Others include the United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Health & Human Services, Health Research and Educational Trust/Association for Community Health Improvement, and Public Health Foundation. The model further involves the Examining Community-Institutional Partnerships for Prevention Research Group, Public Health Institute, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The model does not indicate the time frame for completing a community-wide assessment because different factors such as population and geographical size influence the period that can be taken. Public health nurses play a significant role in the implementation of the assessment model. The nurses assist in collecting data from the targeted community. Additionally, public health nurses deliver planned services and evaluated whether there are effective in improving the community’s well-being.
Reference
Association for Community Health Improvement.(n.d). Community Health Assessment Toolkit Resources. ACHI. .